sniff

¹sniff

verb \ˈsnif\

Definition of SNIFF

intransitive verb

1

: to draw air audibly up the nose especially for smelling <sniffed at the flowers>

2

: to show or express disdain or scorn

3

: snoop, nose <sniffed around for clues>

transitive verb

1

: to smell or take by inhalation through the nose

2

: to utter contemptuously

3

: to recognize or detect by or as if by smelling <sniff out trouble>

Examples of SNIFF

1. She sniffed and wiped her nose with a tissue.
2. She put perfume on her wrist and sniffed it.
3. The dog sniffed the carpet.
4. He held the flower up to his nose and sniffed.
5. “I guess you don't need my help,” she sniffed.

Origin of SNIFF

Middle English

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SNIFF

Synonyms

nose, scent, smell, snuff, whiff

Related Words

breathe, drink (in), inhale, respire; snort, snuffle; savor (also savour)

Rhymes with SNIFF

biff, cliff, diff, glyph, if, iff, jiff, miff, quiff, riff, skiff, spiff, spliff, stiff, syph, tiff, whiff

²sniff

noun

Definition of SNIFF

1

: an act or sound of sniffing

2

: a quantity that is sniffed

Examples of SNIFF

1. She said that she felt fine, but her sniffs and coughs told a different story.
2. “I refuse to answer that question,” she said with a sniff.
3. He wanted to avoid the slightest sniff of a scandal.
4. There was still a sniff of hope left for the team.

First Known Use of SNIFF

1767

Related to SNIFF

Synonyms

aroma, odor, redolence, scent, smell

Related Words

whiff; attar (also otto), bouquet, fragrance, fragrancy, perfume; ambrosia, lusciousness, savor (also savour), savoriness, spice, tang; acridness, fetidness, fetor, foulness, funk, gaminess, malodor, noisomeness, rancidity, rankness, reek, stench, stink; aromaticity, odoriferousness, odorousness; incense, musk